Tell MD Car Dealers to Stop the Unfunny Business of Yo-Yo Scams

It’s time to stop deceiving consumers! Yo-yo scams happen when a car dealer decides to change the terms of your new purchasing contract – often after you’ve signed the contract and left the dealer’s lot. Yes, this practice is illegal in Maryland, but yo-yo scams are still occurring at alarming rates.

Please take action today by signing onto our petition! Tell the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration to leave the game-playing on the playground and not at the car dealer lots.

By using deceitful bait-and-switch tactics, car dealers trick you into paying a higher interest rate, a larger downpayment, or signing a longer contract that may add thousands to the cost of the car.

Maryland consumers deserve better! Please take a few minutes to stand up to yo-yo car dealers by signing this petition today.

This petition was delivered to:

John T. Kuo, Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration

Letter to

John T. Kuo, Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration

I believe Maryland consumers deserve better. Please put an end to “bait-and-switch car sales scams by clearly and forcefully telling dealers to stop this practice.

I’m very concerned that Maryland consumers are being harmed financially by these scams. By using deceitful bait-and-switch tactics, car dealers are tricking consumers into paying a higher interest rate, a larger down payment, or signing a longer contract that may add thousands to the cost of the car.

I’ve found the reports that unlawful yo-yo scams are still occurring extremely alarming. Each year, yo-yo sales are one of the leading car complaints Maryland’s Office of the Attorney General receives. Between January 2009 and Dec. 31, 2011, the Attorney General received 93 yo-yo sales complaints. Between 2008 and 2012, Maryland consumers lost more than $240,000 in these deals, with the average victim losing $4,648.

Please use your enforcement authority to tell car dealers to stop the funny business. I’m calling upon the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration to take this issue seriously by telling car dealers clearly and forcefully to stop this practice.